Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PROVO — BYU’s best defensive player from its woeful 4-9 season in 2017 has found a new home.
Team captain and linebacker Fred Warner was drafted No. 70 overall by the San Francisco 49ers in Friday's third round of the 2018 NFL draft.
Warner is the first local college football player from Utah to be drafted in 2018. He becomes the 12th BYU graduate drafted by the 49ers, which has the second-most in the NFL and the first since quarterback Brandon Doman in 2002. The other 49er draft picks from BYU are Todd Shell (1984), Wayne Baker (1975), Tom Holmoe (1983), Tim Hanshaw (1995), Mike Loper (1969), Casey Boyett (1968), Brian Billick (1977), Kirk Pendleton (1984), Rex Berry (1951) and Dennis Patera (1968).
Detroit has selected 13 former BYU players in its history.
But the 49ers stood out to Warner, and he expects to fit right into a system that has been accommodating to BYU products — both via the drafted and supplemental players like former quarterback Steve Young.
"They have the Leo position, and the 3-4 standard linebackers, and I feel like I fit it in a lot of ways," Warner said. "I can play both (the Will and Mike linebacker) spots.
"Where ever they put me, I'm going to work."
In addition to an interview with the 49ers, Warner also visited with Denver, Buffalo, Miami and the New York Jets prior to the draft.
The 6-foot-3 Warner enrolled at BYU as a four-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and ESPN.com. The No. 15-ranked outside linebacker of his class, Warner compiled 264 tackles, including 158 solo stops, with 32 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, seven interceptions and two pick-sixes in his four-year career with the Cougars.
"Fred is an exceptional football player and person and is prepared to succeed at the next level," BYU coach Kalani Sitake said in a statement. "Fred has earned this opportunity, and I know he’ll take full advantage it. With his size and his athleticism, he is able to be a cover guy and also play inside the box, which is a rare combination to find. He is also a leader and extremely smart football player who knows the game.
"I’m really happy for Fred. He will represent himself and BYU very well in the NFL."
A native of San Marcos, California, whose younger brother Troy will be a junior defensive back at BYU in 2018, Warner ran a 4.64 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and impressed scouts with his 38.5-inch vertical jump, 119-inch broad jump and 4.28 shuttle run.
NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein compares Warner to former BYU linebacker Alani Fua, citing his experience in BYU’s 3-4 and later 4-3 defense as both a positive and negative of his career in Provo.
“Warner’s future success could largely depend on who takes him and how they use him,” Zierlein said. “While most will view him as an outside linebacker, Warner moves around like a big safety. With his instincts and cover skills in space, finding a hybrid role in sub-packages might be where he is best utilized.
“Warner should find immediate work as a backup who can help on special teams.”
